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Why is MCO airport so busy?

MCO is unique in that it sees high levels of foot traffic all year round (due in part to the fact that Guests visit the Walt Disney World Resort twelve months out of the year), something that can't be said of most airports.



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Orlando International Airport is experiencing a record-breaking year as several days in 2023 has become the airport's top 10 busiest days. Airport officials announced that MCO recorded its busiest day in history on March 11 when there were 95,287 departing passengers.

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Generally, Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the best weekdays to fly. Thursday is a bit more expensive but still reasonable. Saturday is usually the cheapest weekend day to fly. That does not mean you cannot find great flight prices on the other days of the week.

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Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport remains the busiest airport in the world with 5.2 million seats in September 2023. The composition of the Global Top 10 Busiest Airports is also the same as last month but there are a few changes to the rankings.

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I would recommend a minimum of 2 hours as MCO can be busy even in the early morning hours.

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General Departure Delays: Traffic is experiencing gate hold and taxi delays lasting 15 minutes or less. General Arrival Delays: Arrival traffic is experiencing airborne delays of 15 minutes or less.

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You may also want to consider applying for one of the expedited screening programs, TSA PreCheck, Global Entry (which also provides TSA PreCheck benefits) or CLEAR. Now you can book a time to go through airport security at MCO Reserve powered by Clear – it's free. MCO is proud to offer MCO Reserve powered by Clear.

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Southwest is the airport's largest carrier by passengers carried. The airport is also a major international gateway for the mid-Florida region, with over 850 daily flights on 44 airlines. The airport also serves 135 domestic and international destinations.

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Nighttime or morning flights are statistically better for turbulence, compared to those in the day.

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Just like us after a night of good sleep, airline circulation is freshest in the morning. If your flight departs in the morning, you are less likely to be affected by delays that stack up during the day and push back or cancel departure times.

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The airlines use the last hours of the day and the first hours of the night to catch up on delays and ensure their aircraft are in the right place for the next day. Night Flights allow the budget airlines and the non-scheduled airlines (usually operating holiday charter flights) to make full use of their aircraft.

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The airport designator code “MCO” comes from the former McCoy Air Force Base, named after Colonel Michael N. W. McCoy, on which site, located at -81.08W 28.96 N, and at 113 feet (34 meters) above sea level, Orlando International Airport now stands. How do I charter an aircraft/helicopter?

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